NYRB must stop LAFC difference-maker Bouanga, says Bradley

New York Red Bulls coach Michael Bradley is relishing the challenge of facing Los Angeles FC, but he knows his team must have a plan to stop Denis Bouanga. 

Bradley's side make the trip to BMO Stadium this week fresh from a goalless draw against the Seattle Sounders, a result that left them just outside the postseason places. 

They face an LAFC side that are flying high in the Western Conference, sitting third in the table, with their position largely inspired by the goalscoring exploits of Bouanga. 

Bouanga has scored 12 goals in 23 league appearances for LAFC this season, adding another to his tally during their 2-2 draw away to Real Salt Lake last weekend. 

The Gabon international scored twice in his only previous MLS outing against NYRB, and Bradley says stopping Bouanga will be key to his side's chances of victory. 

"It's a really good team," Bradley said. "A lot of really good players. Bouanga has been one of the best players in the league for a long time now.

"His ability to make a difference at any moment. He can score goals, set up goals and even in a game that can go along in a way where it doesn't seem like he is doing that much or is that involved, he can change the game at a moment's notice.

"We for sure have to understand how to make the game really hard on him. Obviously, Son [Heung-min], his career, his experience, his quality speaks for itself, and so he has been a really important guy for them as well.

"The list of good players in that team goes on. So we're excited by the challenge of going to play in that stadium against them, and we're going to be ready to be at our best."

Training in some new scenery today. pic.twitter.com/fsKLIq8Alg

— Red Bull New York (@NewYorkRedBulls) September 7, 2026

LAFC twice failed to hold onto their lead at America First Field last time out, with RSL hitting back through Saba Lobjanidze and Noel Caliskan to ensure a share of the spoils. 

Bouanga gave LAFC their initial 14th-minute lead, and Son restored their advantage at 2-1 seven minutes before the break. 

However, Marc dos Santos' side were unable to hold on for all three points, and the LAFC boss lamented his team's inability to score a third game and kill the game off. 

"Sometimes the game was a little bit too open," Dos Santos said.

"It benefited us more in the offensive phase, but it was sometimes difficult in the defensive phase. We have to be more compact at moments.

"When you don't score the third goal and you kind of leave it open, RSL at home, you know… So that part was tough."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

LAFC – Denis Bouanga

No player has scored more goals for LAFC this season than Bouanga, though he has been helped by Son, with the pair forming an incredible partnership.

Against RSL, the pair both recorded a goal and an assist. Since the World Cup break, Bouanga (six) and Son (five) have scored 11 of LAFC’s 13 regular-season goals (excluding own goals), and only six other MLS players have scored 5+ goals in that time.

This duo

Sonny and Denis link up again for our second of the night https://t.co/nMedhosOqR pic.twitter.com/SAJyvFAqhK

— LAFC (@LAFC) September 6, 2026

NYRB – Julian Bazan

Bazan won five tackles on Saturday, the most by any NYRB player in an MLS match this season.

Bazan, who also won four tackles against the Chicago Fire last month, is the only NYRB player with 4+ tackles won in a match in the 2026 regular season, despite only making his MLS debut on May 23.

MATCH PREDICTION: LAFC WIN

After losing their first-ever meeting with NYRB, 2-1 on the road in 2018, LAFC are unbeaten in three straight matches in the series (W2 D1), all at home. This will be the fourth straight meeting between the two teams to take place in Los Angeles.

LAFC have drawn three straight matches and are winless in six MLS games (D4 L2). It's the second time LAFC have had three straight regular-season draws (also September 2019), while their winless streak is the second-longest in MLS play in their club history (eight, between July and August 2021).

NYRB's goalless draw with Seattle ended their run of 22 straight matches across all competitions allowing at least one goal. That was the longest streak of competitive matches without a clean sheet for NYRB since a 34-match run spanning 1999 and 2000 (excluding walkover wins).

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

LAFC – 62.8%

Draw – 19.7%

NYRB – 17.5%

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